~Chapter Eight~

Dont Say Goodbye

It was the night before Fuyu's birthday, aka Gray's. Back to back partying was in store for them. Two days ago Lissana, Mirajane and Elfman went on a mission and werent back yet. Fuyu hoped Lissana would be back in time for her party. Tonight Lissana called the guild on lacrima vision and sung happy birthday to Gray. She promised she would arrive tomorrow in time for Fuyu's. Gray Natsu Erza and Fuyu joked with Lissana and Elfman and then hung up.

Today was Fuyu's birthday and it was raining bad. That just made the seventeen year old happier than ever. She loved the rain, it was her element. Gray had dragged her shopping and surprised her with a beatiful bracelet. Little rain drop shaped charms dangled from them. the day was going beautifully but tonight something went horribly wrong. No one was expecting what had happened. It started during the party, when the guild doors opened.

"C'mon Erza-chan! Let's dance!" Erza blushed furiously as Loke dragged her to the middle of the guild floor and everyone laughed. They had been dating for a while and Erza didnt really get the 'taken' life. Oh Loke continuouly flirted with other girls but Erza just punched him in the face. It was like a little game/routine for the two.

Gray and Fuyu danced too and somehow it ended up as a battle. Fuyu and Erza on one side and Gray and Loke on the other. The girls danced slow and seductive while the boys danced techno. The guild started arguing about who's better while they faced off. Gray and Fuyu were just circling around each other when the doors slammed open. Fuyu spotted white hair and smiled.

"Lissana-chan!" She called but only two people walked in. Mirajane and Elfman looked tired and devestated. Fuyu sort of ignored that fact and walked to the guild doors.

"Where's Lissy-chan? Did she go home to get dressed up or something? Well thats like her, always fashionably late! But does she have to show me up? We all know she dressess cuter! Cmon Natsu-kun! Let's go hide out and scare her!"

"Yea! Alright!"

A ball of fire swirled on Natsu's palm and Fuyu commanded the rain to not land on her. Just before they headed out, Mirajane caught Fuyu's wrist. The birthday girl turned with a smile. Mirajane's heart shattered when she saw that smile.

"Fuyu...sweetheart...Lissana wont be able to come to the party."

Fuyu sighed in dissappointment. "Aww. Is she sick? We could stop by tomorrow and—"

"Fuyu, Natsu, everyone! Lissana is dead!" Mirajane burst and the guild paused there shinanigans. Erza and Gray almost fell to the floor when they heard the words 'Lissana' and 'dead' in the same scentence. Fuyu stared at Mirajane with wide eyes, her red jewels dialating into pen dots. Natsu's fire ceased immediately. He even fingered his ear to see if he heard right.

"Lissana...?" Gray murmured. Erza grabbed the closest thing to her for support, which was Gray.

"LIAR!" Fuyu shouted. The guild turned towards her but she couldnt care less right now. "This is a prank isnt it? Yeah it is! It has to be! Lissana's outside right now smiling and laughing at us and calling us gullable air heads! Right Elfman?! Mira is just playing games! ...Right?" Her voice turned into a whisper on that last one. Natsu was visibly shaking. He didnt seem to far from exploding because deep down they both knew that she was gone. Elfman grabbed Fuyu's hand and gave a teary smile.

"I wish she were lying, Fuyu. I really, truly do."

Without a word the girl stumbled back and ran outside the guild, taking out her cell phone. Erza knew she was going to call Lissana's number. She was itching to do the same.

It seemed like with every step Fuyu took, the rain fell down harder.

"Onii-chan?! Ever?!"

"Their off on a mission!"

Laxus descended down the steps in a white tank top and black jogging pants, drying off his spiky blonde hair with a white towel. What he saw...disturbed him.

Fuyu had dropped to her knees, crying her eyes out. She held on to her chest and Laxus's acute hearing heard her heart practiclly outside her. She kept mumbling "It hurts...It hurts.." and rocking back and fourth. Laxus was there in an instant.

"Cmon, we can get you to Porlyusica's in a sec."

"That wont be necessary."

Erza stepped inside the doorway, eyes watering at the sight of her best friend. Flashes of memories overtook her sight as she saw them when they were younger, dancing in this very room. Lissana would hop on the table despite Fuyu's yells and scream at the top of her lungs: '"I'm gonna party, see how intoxicated I can get and how many rules I can flaunt. That's my motto."' and '"Me? I go wherever the wind blows…and wherever the whiskey shots are half price." Natsu and Gray use to cheer at that and Fuyu and Erza would roll their eyes with smiles.

"What happened? Did that Emo-boy hurt her?" Laxus questioned, eyes flashing dangerously. Erza shook her head and knelt beside Fuyu. The girl laid down on the requip mage's lap and continued to cry.

"Lissana, Mirajane and Elfman's sister, died on a mission."

Laxus eyes widened in shock. He knew how close the three girls were. He knew that it probably stung like hell. The lightning mage tried to imagine how someone so close to him was suddenly ripped away would feel like. He couldnt bring himself to it. He couldnt imagine. Someone like the Raijinshu or Fuyu herself would have to die and he actually started to pray that that wouldnt happen anytime soon.

Fuyu fell asleep, hand on her necklace from Kou. Erza stroked her friends hair and then carefully deposited her in Laxus's arms. Erza murmured a goodbye and closed the froont door quietly on her way out.

He felt the bed sink but didnt stir.

He felt the arms wrap around his waist but didnt bat an eye.

He felt the head lay on his chest but never let out a complaint or grunt. She was hurting and if this was something that could ease her pain he would let it slide.

The scent of spring water and crisp cotton filled the lightning mage's nose. He lived with this scent for three years. Three short years but it felt like forever. Laxus knew tonight was the last night he would see this Fuyu Justine. The one that had broken from her isolation shell and smile to everyone that passed. A blinding smile that lifted even the most coldest of souls.

Fuyu didnt know why but she couldnt sleep by herself. When she found herself alone in her room she began to panic. Like if she wasnt with the only person in the house at all times, he would dissappear just like Lissana. Her heart dropped at that thought.

Laxus sighed and put the covers around the two which made her look up at him. He knew she was there but didnt kick her out. He just grunted in acknowledgment, wrapped an arm around her waist to keep her from fidgeting, and went back to slumber.

For tonight Fuyu felt safe. Safe in Laxus Dreyar's arms.

A.N: The quotes about partying that Lissana said were by:

― H.G. Bissinger, Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream first quote

― Nicki Elson, Three Daves

Second quote.

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